There is much to this letter from Alexander Braunhart, wife Helene. and daughter Selma to their daughter (and sister) Anna Braunhart Tulman. 

There are the usual comings and goings of the family, whether it be in Schubin or in Berlin.

As always there is the discussion of money and the help that Anna and her family provide to their parents. And Alexander, as always, talks about the high cost of goods in Schubin. as well we find out that Alexander is working as a furrier.

The most interesting portion of the letter, however is the discussion of Jakob's whereabouts. He is suspected by his parents to be in Alaska where he resided after (it was written) that his wife died. Alexander's sister Sara, who was residing in Oakland, California reported that to them.

Jakob traveled to San Francisco shortly after his arrival in America in 1904. He was there with his Uncle Samuel on that fateful day in April, 1906 when San Francisco exploded in fire as a result of the Great Earthquake, which had Samuel succumbing a month later.

We know from the 1910 census records as well as San Francisco city directories that he was in the city in the 1910's. He married Pearl Rawson in 1913 and he worked as a tailor in San Francisco.

But things got weird starting in 1915. Pearl was arrested with another man in Spokane, Washington. In 1918, Jakob enlisted in the US Army and had an FBI file opened because he had brothers in the German Army and he visited the German consulate to make sure that he was "OK" with Germany - so to speak.  A file was opened and in the file was a document that stated that his wife had left him in August, 1918.

Furthermore, Pearl married a couple of other men as evidenced by marriage and census records and died in Los Angeles at the ripe old age of 90.

So the question is - did Pearl and Jakob divorce in 1915 or thereabouts? Did Jakob marry again after Pearl, or is Pearl the wife who left him as mentioned in the FBI file in 1918? And lastly did Jakob lie to his Aunt and to his parents and family about her "death" because of embarrassment? Or is the death of the wife a subsequent wife after Pearl? Perhaps we will never know.

Below is the original letter, followed by the English translation:

Thanks to our terrific translator Matthias Steinke, below is the English translation of the letter:

Schubin, 25.12.19

[from Selma]

My dear sister,

My first letter you will probably have received in the meantime. We are all healthy and hope from you, your husband and child the same. The main reason for my letter today is to send you my heartiest wishes to your birthday. The dear God may give you good luck and blessings and preserve you with husband and child in the best health. The 23rd this month we got again a letter from you. We are always pleased if we get messages. We were such a long time like cut off  from the world.

Congratulate to the house purchase, may God further give luck and blessing.

Aunt wrote that Jakob is now in Alaska, he went there after the death of his wife. Give me the addresses of S.F. German newspapers. I will try whether I can get special calls concerning Jakob.

Due to the case, that all still want to write again all good and hearty greetings and kisses for
all by your Selma

[from Helene]

Dearly beloved daughter!

Receive also from me to your birthday the heartiest congratulation. God let you and your beloved in good health and give you the best luck on earth.

We enjoy the pictures you, Anna sent us. Looks like the boys of Karl. God let them have joy as they grow up.

Frieda is in Labischin. The father, Selma and Frieda drove there on Sunday, for pleasure Hanukkah-fest, so they stayed there. There it isn't so bad.

Julius is healthy, also Dorka and child; he is thanks God fine. The boys from Berlin should arrive today
but it's not so easy. The train traffic from and to Germany shall be stopped. 

Why isn't Martha letting us hear from her? Hope they are all healthy, please report. These letters are also for Sternbachs.

Thousand hearty greetings and kisses to all and also to Martha and family.

[from Alexander]

Dear good daughter Anna!

Congratulate to the birthday. May all the wishes which we have for you and also yours be fulfilled. Greet you, Harry and the little one as also Martha, Benny and the boys. Your little (daughter), our youngest grandchild, looks in the pictures like a picture-perfect ... child. May she be preserved for us.

Received your registered letter, and will as far as it is peace leave Schubin. At the moment its not possible because due to lack of apartments and huge cold. If we move, we don't give up our furniture indoors. We want to be independent from the children here and also don't want to take advantage from you. You have to support your own families. 

We expect Theo and Philipp daily. It will be very difficult if they want to go back to Germany again. I assume, that Theo wants to wait for your sendings first. Have you sent him the money via a German bank? Which one, with exception of the "Dresdener Bank", doesn't matter. The cheques will be sent by the bank to the receiver, and the money occasionally picked up.  I don't want with it say, that you shall send money. We have enough for living by your sending. If we need something, I will write.

You shall get a picture of Theo, Julius and Moritz. How it is Moritz going, you will see in attached letter.

From Aunt received a long, long letter. Complains about all, all and (writes about) travel-experiences. She is old and doesn't want to realize it. If one thinks about it, she has a good heart; but nervous like all Braunharts. 

She doesn't know something about Jakob and also from the bank. I am thinking a lot of Jakob.

Also from Cecelia Markheim got letter, complains that you and Martha behave so strange. You will have your reasons. I will answer her letter.

Mum behaves good. You will get our pictures as soon as Bromberg is open.

Business is going better sometimes, mainly with furrier-works. Due to my eyes its hard for me to work. But what is to do? By the work the time is going by a little bit faster. We suffer no distress, although everything is expensive. But you can get everything. But whether it will be so? I notice again, that our letter is also for Martha.

Now dear daughter fare well and be again hearty greeted by your dearly loving father.

Philipp Braunhart's history has been difficult to piece together. We know that his life ended at the hands of the Nazis. We know that he divorced his wife to save his children because of the Nuremberg laws. We know that he was a tailor who had his shop destroyed as a result of Kristallnacht. And we know that he barely missed an opportunity to flee Germany in 1939.

There is a story of how he and brother Karl were imprisoned as a result of selling fractured silver. We believe his birth given name was "Bernhard" which also was the name he gave his third child.

But so far it has been difficult to fill in the blanks of his life. In this fairly benign letter from Berlin to his parents and siblings in Schubin - he writes one line that stuck out to me as revealing - "I am very stressed and nervous."

Obviously I never knew the man and his story is only revealed through these letters that we have accumulated. He appears to be a thinking and feeling man with a great love for his family. But for some reason - that line seems to sum up a large part of his life - stressed and nervous.  

Below is the letter followed by the English translation.

Thanks to our friend and translator Matthias Steinke, below is the English translation:

Berlin the 16th September 1919

My very beloved parent and siblings!

Got the beloved fathers, Martha's, the beloved Cilly and mothers letters and read, that at you, my beloved, is everything OK. From us I can report the same.

That Moritz is already since 3 weeks at me you will probably know from his letter, which I assume is in your possession.

I look happily forward for the dear Cilly's visit and hope that she will have a good unhindered journey.

The dear Theo is thank God healthy again. But he still has to spare himself and needs a good care. I had to do a lot with him. It was very severe and everything was possible. The doctors and professors couldn't believe it. But he recovered very good and was than 14 days away for recreation.

Has now a very good job which he got from Moritz. I didn't like it. But the times and businesses are bitter and the life prohibitive.

About that I had very huge business losses.

Moritz is not bad, but has also to struggle.

What are you doing and how are you? What is Selma doing and Frieda. Frieda's dress is hanging and I will hope, that it will be sold soon. As I heard are all Jews moving away from there.

What are your plans? What is in my power I will you my beloved help with advices and deeds.

I am very stressed and nervous. But will become OK I think.

Otherwise are heart, lung and brain at the right place. Otherwise, I don't know to write more of interest.

While I my very beloved hearty greet and kiss I remain for a soon meet again your you loving son and brother
Philipp.

[p.s.] Moritz ask you to send him a birth certificate as soon as possible.

This letter is from father Alexander Braunhart to daughter Martha Braunhart Sternbach, who had immigrated and was living with her husband and children in Brooklyn, New York.

Based on travel records, Alexander had visited New York twice in the early 1880s. It is unknown why he did not immigrate. But in this letter he mentions a desire to immigrate, yet he states that his wife Helene likely does not wish to do so.

He also remarks about the ongoing strife in Schubin, with the conflict between the Poles and the Germans ebbing, but not yet over.

Finally, he discusses the dilemma of the Jews still in Schubin, and the fact that no matter what they do - they are still undergoing ill treatment.

Below is the original letter, followed by the English translation:

Thanks to our wonderful translator Matthias Steinke, the English translation is below:

Schubin, 7th. September 1919

Dear children and grandchildren!

Like to inform you that the parcel arrived. Best, best thanks. The parcel which was very necessary for us, caused here a stir. The parcel contained:

2 cans of tinned fish
1 can of sardines
2 packages rice
1 package tea
3 chocolate bars
1 can oil

After the description it was probably more in. If you can't afford it so good, don't send anymore to us, because the postage costs so much and the content is also expensive. In my time over 40 years ago everything was very cheap 
over there. 

Our detailed letter as answer to yours you will probably already hold in your hands .In any case write very often. Anna and Jakob let nothing hear from them. I wrote to them and also to Aunt in Oakland, to which I enclosed Jakob's letter, because I don't know his address. Greet Anna, Harry and the little one and Anna shall write finally. Or did something happen? To the turn of the year we congratulate. 

Otherwise everything is calm here. Whether it will be that way? May God protect us against the experiences we already made in the past.

Cylli's husband will probably be released [from POW camp] in Berlin these days. She is already there. 

Karl, wife and children start this week. They made good money. I hardly think, that it will be in Germany so good. We also want to move. But where? Have to wait.  We don't like to be at the children, but "independent". 
With the currency is going worse from day to day. Even the insurances have an end. Everything is going to Polish hands. The Polish government is very loyal, but the population is still very agitated. I have never been 
hostile against Poles.

The Prussian state has done many sins to the Poles and the Jews. The Jews are the worst off. If they go right, its not good; if they go left the same, and if they stay neutral they are gutless and untrue. Frankly speaking  the Jews have also sinned a lot, namely to persons who said them the truth. But what is to do? One is in the soup after all.

Apart from that the ours are doing well. Is Leo learning good? Speak the boys also German? Harold has probably to go to school now. If the times are better and Bromberg open, you will receive our pictures. How would it be if we come overthere? Mum probably doesn't want, and it doesn't give so much money for the journey. Otherwise, if the 
bank would pay.


Now farewell and be greeted hearty by your loving parents.

"The times here are terrible" is one of the phrases that Alexander Braunhart writes in this long letter to his daughter Anna in Brooklyn. Primarily because of war between the Poles and the Germans in and around Schubin, the Braunhart "homeland."

His most chilling sentence is "But one gets used to everything and one owes only the death."

His family is strewn everywhere. Jakob is nowhere to be found - daughters Martha and Anna are in Brooklyn. His sister Sara is in Oakland, California. Son Theo is in Bromberg, Moritz in Leipzig, and the rest are either still in Schubin or in Berlin.

The war and the cost of goods is wearing on he and his immediate family at home in Schubin. Looting and internment camps are part of the distress reported by Alexander. Yet wife Helene is ever positive as is daughter Frieda in this letter to their beloved Anna.

With many thanks to our translator Matthias Steinke, here is the English translation:

Szubin, street of the 3rd May Nr. 31, 3rd September 1919

Beloved daughter Anna, good son-in-law and sweet grandchildren!

First of all deepest congratulation for your little daughter, and for the coming new year. We got a message from Martha about 14 days ago and we also waited since year and day for yours. All, who have relatives over there are getting letters only we don´t, except the one from Martha, which we directly answered in detail. Hopefully is our answer, which was addressed to you all already in your hands.

We were glad to see, that you are doing well; but it was nothing mentioned about Jakob, Aunt and the bank. I will also write today to San Francisco and Oakland.

How we were doing and will do in future is impossible to describe in a letter. Schubin and the whole county is now Polish and it will probably be. In front and in the city were huge battles with many losses of people. In the beginning the Polish and German soldiers were looting, and Karl had over 15.000 Mark stolen from him. We had been spared of paying contributions and bails.

One day they wanted to intern us, but did not start. All German and Jewish men, who haven't fled were interned or had to pay high bails.

Now they are quite all at home.

Karl is not among those at home, because he had already fled to Berlin before the internments began. And Hedwig moves with both children in the middle of the month to Berlin to Karl. After the children we will longing for, because they were always around us.

We live in a house. Our boys have been soldiers during the war and came back safe and healthy.

Only Theo got an attack of malaria. Coming from the Ukraine he came to Bromberg (Bydgocz). He couldn't come to Schubin and fled to Berlin, where he had a profitable job.

His stuff will Hedwig bring when she moves.

Philipp is doing well, so as Moritz in Leipzig.

Julius and wife and child visit us often. Julius became in the internment camp very serious ill.

We were treated by the military authorities very good. With the people are many problems. In Schubin, which became Polish, the people are being treated fairly, unlike the people in Germany. Nine Jewish families are already away and others will follow. We also don't stay here.

The livelihood is very expensive, but its here better than in Germany, here you can get something for the money at least. A pound meat costs 4 Mark, 1 ... eggs 4-5 Mark, 1 bread 1,70 Mark; 10 butter 5 Mark and more; 1 box old matches 30 Pfennig; 1 cigar 3,50 Mark, coffee 30 Mark, rice 3,30 Mark; 1 package chicory 3 Mark and so on. 

We hadn't any distress so far and we still have some money.

As far as there is something in the stock, we will hold out. We don't expect anything from you, because you also
have hard times. If the bank would pay, it would help us, because the Dollar costs here 14 Mark.

Write your opinions and make inquiries. Write me also the address of Jakob and Aunt. Cylli had against our sake in Graudenz (Grudziądz) a war-wedding with a man who is still in British war-captivity. His name is Horst Eilenberg and he is a finely educated man. Cylli is since 8 days in Berlin and awaits her "Saxon". She was and is very hysterical. 

Selma is and was during the war here and helped Mum. But will probably soon go to Berlin, because here it has no purpose. 

Frieda, who is tall and strong writes for 60 Marks per month. At the moment for shoes which cost 130 Mark the pair. A strikingly beautiful girl.

Mum and I are getting tottery. The times here were terrible.

We spent the nights in the cellar as protection against the grenades. But now its calm and orderly and give God that now everything will be settled soon. Bromberg is still German and every traffic to there closed. We have here always soldiers, that is to say now Polish. We are afraid for the next winter due to a deficit of heating-material. A fathom timber costs 100 Mark and peat, timber and coal are not available. The electric light is limited.

But one gets used to everything and one owes only the death.

As soon as the boys find an apartment for us we will move. At the moment there aren't any apartments available and we pay here 300 Mark yearly. Martha's advised parcel didn't arrive so far, and as soon we will get a message from you we will tell it to you.

What's the name of the little daughter? Has Harry a job? Do you still have the business? Do you live with the Sternbachs and Markheims in harmony?

Greet all, and also you are hearty greeted from your you loving parents.

[from Helene] 

Dear children!

We got Martha's letter and are very concerned being without message from you, my beloved and we expect with huge longing a letter from you. Hopefully you are healthy, so as also the little one to whom we hearty congratulate.

We are doing well, we want to move away. No hope? and inflation is raising.

Martha should wait sending the parcel, it doesn't arrive up to today.

For today farewell and be hearty greeted and kissed by your you heartfelt loving mother Helene

Please greet also Martha, Benny and the lovely children as well as all relatives

[from Frieda]

The heartiest greetings and kisses is sending you your sister and sister-in-law Frieda.

The earliest photos of Braunhart babies and children are from 1900 on. Just for fun, here is a selection of some of them:

This Letters from Germany series primarily consists of letters to Anna Braunhart Tulman in Brooklyn, from her parents, siblings and other relatives who remained in Schubin and Berlin.

The majority of the letters are from her father Alexander Braunhart. Alexander did not "beat around the bush" when it came to commenting on the lives of his children and Anna's siblings.

If he saw something he did not approve of, he certainly would bring it to Anna's attention.

This letter is no different. Whereas, he says almost nothing about sons Julius and Moritz serving in the Army, he is pretty blunt about two of their siblings.

He calls Karl a "bounder." For those seeking a definition - it is a dishonorable or unscrupulous man, or a cad.  I always thought of a bounder as a womanizer or a gambler. I suspect that all of those definitions applied to Karl at that time of his life.

Regarding Cecilia - or Cilly (Cylli) on the other hand - he just makes a slight comment about her wanting to marry a Christian - and he says quite simply - "I am powerless."

Little does Alexander know at that time, but possibly her marrying a Christian saved her life during the Nazi reign several years later. Cilly and her husband Horst Eilenberg stayed in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s, and lived the remainder of their lives in East Germany.

The letter has four authors, Selma and Frieda to their sister, and Alexander and Helene to their daughter. Below is a scan of the original letter, followed by the English translation.

With many thanks to our German to English translator - Matthias Steinke, below is the English version:


Schubin, the 1st  January 1917

Dear Anna

We thankful received your letter from November 7 and saw from it that you are well. The same I can report from us. I was for some time in Germany but I am now since about three weeks again at home. Moritz and Julius are soldiers. They are well and they aren't in danger. But now I don't want to miss to send you to your birthday my best wishes. The beloved God give you a permanent health and let fulfill all of your wishes.

This wishing from heart with the best greetings for you, Harry, Martha, children and husband.
Your loving sister Selma

Dear Anna!

I am glad, that you are healthy and that you are going fine. To your coming birthday I congratulate you hearty. May God give you a good health and fulfill all your wishes. Don't be concerned about your siblings, they are all fine. Julius has a house and a thriving business, although he isn't at home. Karl is also doing well, they live a good day. Also us you don't need to send anything. 


Farewell, greet the dear Harry, Martha and family.

You yourselves be hearty greeted by your you loving mother Helene

Dear Anna!

Can't omit to congratulate you to your birthday. May God give you all the best. But above all a permanent health. God let fulfill all your wishes. That you are fine makes me glad. Many greetings for Harry, Martha and family and especially for you is sending you your hearty loving sister Frieda. Hedwig and Karl congratulate best.

My dear children and grandchildren!

This letter is dedicated to you and Sternbachs. I would be glad to receive a letter from Martha.
The 5 Dollar are away and whether this letter will reach you is questionable. With aunt is nothing to start. Have written to the consul, but don't give much on it and would be sad if we have to wait for it. We don't suffer and are sending parcels and money to the soldiers. So be concerning this reassured. Share the content of this letter, if it reaches you, also with aunt and greet Markheims and Brocks. You will get our pictures if we can be sure, that you will get them. 

We became old dear children, but thank God that we are doing quite well.

Selma is now at home, Frieda is from school, Theo is back for the present (but can come every day ....), Philipp
earns in Berlin heavy money and pays us the parcels. He isn't quite healthy. 

Cylli is doing well in Graudenz and wants to marry a Christian. I am powerless.

From Baumgarts is the third son fallen. We have nothing common with Karl. He was and remains a bounder. Although he is able to do it, he hasn't left the slightest little thing for his brothers. We are glad that we don't need him.

Julius and Moritz are in the army and they are doing well.

That you and Sternbachs are fine makes me glad. Nowadays, one has to be satisfied with few.

Now dear Anna congratulate to birthday, be all, all greeted and write back soon to your you loving father.

Why doesn't write Harry and Benny? I "accept" also the Jewish writing for good. Also Leo is able to write, or not?